Respotting and sweeping mechanism for bowling pin spotting machines



R. L. HoLLowAY REsPoTTING AND swEEPING MEcHANIsM FOR Sept. 27, 1960 BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MCHINES Filed June 19, 1958 lNvENToR ROBERT L HoLLowAY BY mfr.

ATTORNEY R. L. HoLLoWAY 2,954,228 REsPoTTING AND swEEPING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN sPoTTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y A NN w N) NS QS., uw, wm m9 www@ w f l CSN R.. H OO 1.1 mu ?.m MN E L. w www@ uw lm. Nh Nw .Q QN N9 E www N o .Rmm-

N. .n. u a lli. .R P, N Nw NWN Nm MN o QQ QN Nm, v V n H-.IQIJ- JR, .Q www m Sept. 27, 1960 Filed June 19, 1958 P\ m .wi

ATTORNEY R. L. HoLLOwAY REsPoTTING AND swEEPINc MEcHANrsM FOR Sept. 27, 1960 BOWLING PIN SPGTTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NNN www

INVENTOR Filed June 19, 1958 AROBERT L. HOLLOWAY| BY M4 M ATTORNEY Sept 27, 1960 R. L. HoLLowAY 2,954,228

REsPoTTING AND swEEPING MECHANISM FOR v BOWLING PINvsPoTTING MACHINES v med June 19, 1958 4 sheets-sheet '4` v INVENTOR ATTORNEY ROBERT L. HoLLowAY @N M Q RESPO'ITING AND SWEEPING lVIECHAN-ISMV FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES Robert L. Holloway, Snyder, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 19, 195s, ser.. 1510.743439 17'c1aims. V(ci. 273-54) The present invention relates to bowling pin spotting machines and more particularly to. mechanism for removing fallen pins from the playing surface of a bowling alleywithout the need for respotting any standing pins` was required to remove or sweep fallen pins or deadwood oi the alley surface and to respot standing pins in position on the alley. This was generally accomplished by providing respotting devices on the spotting table which moved down after the iirst ball had been rolled. These devices gripped any pins standing on the alley land -as the table moved upwardly again, vsuch engaged pins were likewise elevated. The sweepv mechanism then moved yany fallen pins along the alley.y surface and' into the pit. When the alley had been swept and the sweep moved out ofthe path of travel of' the'-` table, the table was again moved downwardly toward the alley surface and the pins gripped by the respotting devices were released in standing posi-tion on the alley surface and thetable returnedto its dwell position above the alley. 'Thus the table was required to be provided with both spotting and respotting devices and the associated machine required`r separateA sweep mechanism, actuated in timed relationship to the movement of the table, to remove fallen pins into the pit.

According to the present invention, the spotting table is utilized as the means for eiecting the positive holding of standing pins in the 'exact position they occupy after the iirst ball of a frame has been rolled. To remove fallen pins into the pit, the portion of the alley on which the pins are spotted is tilted or swung upwardly` to cause such fallen pins to gravitate into. the pit.) To ensure that fallenpins will not become lodged between the clamped' standing pins, ten triangu-larlyarranged circular pin spots corn-V forming to spotted pin pattern are formed separately from the pin spotting deck of alley. The deck proper is mounted for downward movement relative tothe pin spots, moving any fallen pins out of contact with theY clamped standing pins on the pin spots and into engagement with rotating rings carried on the tiltable portion of the alley. These rings operate to positively urge pins engaged thereby into the pit. When all fallenpins have been removed, the pin deck is moved back downwardly to its position ilush with the rest ofthe alley; A guard is provided against any carelessly rolled' balls during the sweeping and respotting operation. Y I

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide means for ensuring positive disengagement and removal of fallen pins from standing pins remaining on the alley.l

It is likewise an object of theA present invention to pro.- vide a pin supporting deck adapted for movement relativeto the pin spots thereof to remove any fallen pins into the pit of the associated bowling'al'ley while, maintaining standing pins in lixedl position on' their respective pin spots.

-A further object of the present invention is tti-:provide 1 a pin supporting deck` of al bowling-.alley adapted .for

into the pit.

pivotal and vertical movement toremove fallen pins thereon into the p it. 1 j

An added object of the present invention is -to provide rotatable members on the pin supporting deck of a bowling alley to engage fallenv pins and urge Athem into the pi t.`

An additional object of this invention is to provide rotatable rings on the pin spot supports operative when the pin deck moves vertically relative to the-pin spots to engage` fallen pins" `deli'veredwfthereto and remove them Another objectof the present inventionv is to provide a guardingA member operative during the sweeping and respotting cycle ofthe associated kbowling pin; spotting machine to engage' bowling balls rolled on the alley.

Other objects tandfeatures of` the invention will appear asthe description of the particular physical embodiment'- selected to illustrate thepinvention progresses. `In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, l-ike characters of reference have been'applied', toA correspond'fingfparts throughout the several views which make up the drawings. f

lFig. ,lY is a side elevation of the invention, at the start of the sweeping operation.`

`Fig. 2 is an'enlarged sectional view of a pin spot and itsassociated mechanism.

`Fig. 3 is a frontelev-ation of the invention shown in IFigure l.

Fig 4 is a planview of Figure 1. Y

Fig; 51is a side elevation of the invention, lat the end of the sweeping operation4 and the start of the respotting operation.

- Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the present invention is i shown preferably associated with a pin setting table T of the type disclosed in Patterson Patent 2,316,183 for a -Pfin Setter forl Bowling Alleys; The mechanisms utilized for raising and lowering the table in the referred to Patterson patent can be utilized for the same purposes in the present invention. Only so much disclosure of the Pat'- terson'patent as is needed for a complete understanding of the present invention is included herein in the interests of brevity. i

In the preferred embodiment ofl the present invention, the pin supporting portion, designated generally 10, of the' associated bowling valley'AA comprises ten triangular-arranged pin spots 12, eachrmountedlon a stepped shaft 14,

- secured to -a lower plate 16. An upper platey 18, alsoV supported by lower plate 16, is 'adapted for verticali movement relative to pin spots 1Q such that, when plate 18' is in its position of highestivertical travel plate 113l and pin spots 12 present a continuous pin supporting surface forming pin supporting portion Y10, shown inV Figures l, 3 and 4. It will be understood that plate 18 isprovided with ten triangularly-arranged apertures 20@ which coincide with pin spots 1,2l to permit free relative movement between plate 18 and 'stationary pin spots 12`. Brackets'22 secured on each side of plate 16 each support the portion G of the gutter of alley A adjacentfits re` spective side of pin supporting portion 10.

`Plate 16' 'and its associated mechanism, including gfut-W4 ters G?, is adapted for pivotal movement between' com .ventional kickbacks K relative to thel main portion 'of alley A and pit P thereof, for purposes more fully set forth hereinbelow. A suitable form of mechanism to accomplish this consists invmounting plate 16` for tilting or pivotal Imovement towards pit` P. Accordingly hinges 24 fare'xedto plate v16 adjacent' pit P and t o the verti-f calportion V at the end of'alley Such that plate 16 and its associated' mechanism can be swung.' from a normally horizontal position shown in `FigureI 1 to an in# clinedposition, illustrated inV Figure 5. Plate '16, Yat .the desiredtime, isv swung onits hinges 24fund'r the Patented Sept. 27, 1960` action of two sets of spaced levers 26, 28 and 30 located beneath alley A. Levers 26 are each pivotally mounted at their lower ends in anchors 32 attached to the alley oor. Levers 28 passing through apertures 29 in'plate 16 are each pivotally mounted at their upper ends in brackets 34 secured to the top face of plate =16. Levers 30 are each pivotally mounted at their lower ends to crank members 36 secured at each end to shaft 38 of motor 40. The free ends of each set of levers 26, 28 and 30 are -pivotally connected in common on pin 42.

-In operation, after the rst ball has been thrown, presumably knocking down some pins while leaving some standing, the pin setter table T is lowered by suitable mechanism (not shown) until clamping member 42 thereof comes into contac-t with the head ends of any standing pins '11 and holds them securely in place on their respective pin spots 12. Clamping member 42 comprises a clamp plate 44 provided with extending projections 46. During the downward movement of table T, projections 46 vmove into engagement with cam surfaces 49 of movable locking arm, such as arms or levers 50 pivotally mounted at 521 on each side of alley A, preferably adjacent and movable backwards into and out of cut-outs 48 in kickbacks K, so that at all times levers 50 cannot interfere with the playing of the same or the operation ofthe machine. It follows, therefore, that when levers 50 have been swung back by projections 46, they will be returned by the action of springs 52 into locking coaction with projections 46 engaging surfaces 53 of le- Y vers 50, locking clamp plate 44 against vertical movement with table T. When plate 44 is locked in ythis manner, compressible pad 54 carried on the underface of plate 44 will be depressed by the heads of any standing pins 11, providing a secure grip thereon between pad 54 and pin spot 12, holding such pins 11 firmly against movement relative to their associated pin spot as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, Pad 54 is preferably of sponge rubber but, if desired, felt, sheet rubber or other suitable compressible or elastic material may be used.

With plate 44 thus clamped, table T is started upwardly and spring-actuated ball latches 56 are operated by the relative movement between the rest of table T and projections 46 on plate 44 to release the latter from the remainder of table T. Plate 44thus remains clamped to levers 50, holding standing pins 11 on their associated pin spots 12.

Plate `44 and its associated mechanism including levers 50 may be similar in construction and operation to those shown in the above-referred to Patterson Patent 2,316,- 183.

As table T moves upwardly away from alley A, a suitable control mechanism (not shown) completes a circuit-actuating motor 40 and rotating shaft 38. The actuation of motor `40 and shaft 38 rotates crank mem- 'bers 36 in the direction of arrow a in Figure 1 which, in turn, operate to pivot levers 26, 28 and 30 through the connections thereof described hereinabove, from the collapsed, jack-knifed position shown in Figure 1 to their extended positions shown in Figure 5, The rotation of crank members 36 and the pivoting of levers 26, 28 and 30 into their extended positions operates to tilt or pivot plate 16 and its associated mechanism, about hinges 24.in the direction of arrow b, Figure l, and into the inclined position, illustrated in Figure 5.

Toensure that any fallen pins 11a, on the pin supporting portion of alley A, will be moved into pit P, plate 1'8, the upper surface of which is normally in position flush with the top of pin spots 12 (see Figure 2) is mounted for vertical movement relative to pin spots 12. Plate 18 is maintained in its flush position on two sets of substantially identical supports, each comprising rollers 58 and 60 and mounted on the end of rocker arms 62 and 64 respectively. Rocker arms 6-2 and 64 extend through slots 66 in plate 16 and are each rotatably may be formed integrally with rocker arm 64.

A cam follower 74 is rotatably mounted on the free Y end of cam arm 72 and is adapted for horizontal travel in cam track 76 in upright bracket 78 secured to the oor of alley A. Parallel arms 80 and 82 are pivotally v'mounted at their upper ends to brackets 84 and 86, re-

spectively, mounted on the underface of upper plate 18. The lower ends of arm'80'and 82 are pivotally attached to brackets y88 and 90, respectively, mounted on the upper face of lower plate 16. Arms 80 and 82 operate to maintain the parallel relationship between plates 116 and 18 as plate 18 is moved vertically of pin spots 12.

In operation, as plate 16 is tilted upwardly, as described hereinabove, rocker arms 62 and 64 are likewise moved upwardly in the direction of arrow b in Figure 1. The movement of rocker arm 64 operates to travel cam follower 74 in cam track 76. However, since the movement of rocker arm 64 is in a curved path while cam follower 74 is restrained to horizontal movement, there is developed a component of force which operates to rotate cam arm 72 and rocker arm 64 about their associated stud 68 in the direction of arrow c in `Figure l. The rotation of rocker arm 64, through its connection to lever arm 73, operates to rotate rocker arm 62 in the direction of arrow c also, plate 18, supported on rollers 58 and l60 carried by arms 62 and 64, is thus moveddownwardly relative to pin spots 12 into the collapsed position shown in Figure 5.

Referring specifically to Figure 2, each stepped shaft 14, supporting a pin spot 12, rotatably mounts adjacent Yits midpoint an annular ring or caster 92. Caster 92,

preferably of rubber or other resilient material is secured to a sleeve 94 rotatably supported on the lip or step 13 of yshaft 14. Each caster 92 is provided with a vertical slot 96 to accommodate the upper end of a stud 98. Stud 98 is secured at its lower end to a pulley or sheave 100 fixed to a sleeve 102 rotatably supported on shaft 14. A spacer 104 supports the bottom of pulley 100,

permitting free rotatable movement thereof. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, casters 92 are all supported at substantially the same elevation on their respective shafts 14. However, spacers 104 vary in height to locate their associated pulleys 100 in proper elevation since pulleys 100 may be either a single or double pulley depending on its particular function as described hereinbelow.

Pulleys 100 are driven by a suitable system of endless traveling belts. In one system, a suitable intermittently driven gear reducing motor 106 is provided below alley A. Motor 106 is energized by the same control system s (not shown) which energizes motor 40, the control system completing a circuit actuating both motors 106 and 40 substantially simultaneously. However, if desired, a separate control system for motor 106 only, may be employed to actuate motor 106 after'plate 18 reaches its collapsed position or starts theretoward.

When motor 106 is energized, shaft 108 thereof is rotated, rotating pulley 110V mounted thereon. Belt 112, passing around pulley 110 at one end and around pulley 113 at the other end, is travelled by pulley 110 to rotate pulley 113. Pulley 113 is mounted on the lower end of sleeve 116, carried in b earing housing 118 mounted on the under face of plate 16, adjacent the number ten pin spot.

Stepped shaft 114 of the ten spot position :is somewhat longer than shafts 14 of the other pin spot position. Shaft 114 is secured in position in housing 118 as shown in Figure 3, and is inserted in and supports sleeve 116. Shaft 114 is provided with two steps 111 and 115, step aes-tsss ..3 115 rotatably supporting the lower end of sleeve 116 while step 111 rotatably supports caster 92. Sleeve 116 and shaft 114 pass through an opening therefor in plate 16,. The upper end of sleeve 116 supports pulley 100 of the ten spot position mounted thereon.

As shown best in Figure 4, belt 120 passes around pulleys 100 of the ten, nine, eight and six spot positions. Belt 122 passes around pulleys 100 of the eight, seven, ve and four spot positions. Belt 124 passes around pulleys 100 of the ve, three, two and one spot position. It will be understood that, because of the arrangement of belts 120, 122 and 124, pulleys 100 at the eight, and ve spot positions are double pulleys, while all the remainder need only be single pulleys. 1

When motor 106 is energized, pulley 110 drives belt 112 which in turn rotates pulley 113. The rotation of pulley 113 rotates sleeve 116 about shaft 114 which drives its associated pulley 100 of the ten spot position. The rotation of pulley 100 of the ten spot position in turn travels belt 120 about its associated pulleys 100. Since both belts 120 and 122 pass around pulley 100 of the eight spot position, belt 122 will be driven also. Likewise, since belts 122 and 124 pass around pulley 100 of the tive spot position, all belts 120, 122 and 124 will be simultaneous travelled around their associated pulleys 100, rotating pulleys 10i) about their respective shafts 13. Since all pulleys 100 are connected by studs 98 to their associated casters 92, casters 92 will likewise be rotated about their associated shafts 14.

As plate 16 is pivoted about hinges 24 and plate 18 moved into collapsed position, as described hereinabove, any falling pins 11a lying thereon are moved vertically downward out of contact with and from between any clamped standing pins 11. Motor 106, energized as plate 16 is pivoted, drives belts 120, 122 and 124, rotating casters 92. Any fallen pins 11a on plate 18, in its collapsed position, are engaged by the rotating casters 92 and positively urged thereby to gravitate into pit P.

It will be evident that as crank members 36 are continued to be'rotated by shaft 38 of motor 40 in the direction of arrow a and past the position illustrated in Figure 5, the direction of movement of plate 16 is reversed. Levers 26, 28 and 30 are collapsed thereby pivoting plate 16 about hinges 24 in the direction of arrow d in Figure and back to its horizontal position. The gearing of motor 40 is such that crank members 36 make one complete revolution per respotting and sweeping cycle.

The movement of plate 16 back to its horizontal posi-A tion likewise operates to raise plate 18 past rotating casters 92 and into its ilush pin supporting position. This is accomplished by reversing the direction of travel of,

cam followers 74 in their associated tracks 76, pivoting rocker -arms 64, levers 73 and rocker arms 62 back to their Vertical plate `supporting position shown in Figure 1, reversing the procedure described in detail hereinabove.

When plate 16 returns to its horizontal position, the control system (not shown) interrupts the circuit energizing motor 40 and motor 106 until the next respotting and sweeping cycle of the associated bowling pin spotting machine.

Table T is again lowered by suitable mechanism (not shown) and, ball latches 56 thereon engage projections 46 on plate 44 connecting it to the Arest of table T. Levers 50 release their hold on plate 44 to permit plate 44 and table T to be returned to a dwell position above the alley. The disengagement of levers 50 may be ac-v complished in any desired manner, as for instance by means of solen'oids, as described in Patterson Patent 2,316,183. Plate 44, having been released, returns with table T to the dwell position, unclamping standing pins 11 to await the next ball to be rolled along alley A.

A slack take-up device is provided comprising roller 121 mounted on vertical stud shaft 123 which in turn is adjustably secured on the upper surface of plate 16.

i o Roller 121 is operative to vary the tension in belt 120 thereby controlling the operating speeds of the 4other belts 122 and 124.

To guard against an inadvertently rolled ball as plate 16 is pivoted about its hinges 24, a suitable guard is provided. The guard comprises a transverse member 126 adapted to move into and out of guard position across alley A (see 'Figure 5) through aperture 128 provided therefor. Member 126 is supported on one end of spaced levers 130 under alley A. Levers 126 are each pivotally supported at their other ends on transverse shaft 132 secured to brackets 134 mounted under alley A. One endv of a second lever 136, downwardly depending from shaft 132, is xed to and pivots with each lever 126. Springs 138, one end free being fixed to the free end of each lever 137 and their other ends anchored to a portion of alley A beneath plate 16, operate to normally bias member 126 into guarding position. Spaced brackets 140 xed to the rear face of member 126 and mounting on their free ends rollers 142 operate to overcome springs 138 and move member 126 out of guard position when plate 16 is back to horizontal position. Brackets 140 are so positioned that rollers 142 thereon are engaged by the under-surface of plate 18 when in generally horizontal position (see Figure l). The weight of plate 18 and its associated mechanism is sucient to overcome the tension in springs 140, urging member 126 downwardly through aperture 128 and out of guard position, to permit the rolling of a ball along alley A.

When, during the respotting and sweeping cycle, plate 16, and thereby plate 18, are pivoted to an inclined position, illustrated in Figure 5 and detailed hereinabove, plate 18 is moved out of engagement with rollers 142. When this occurs, springs 138 bias mem-ber 126 through aperture 128 and int-o guard position to intercept any balls inadvertently rolled during the time the mechanism is in an inclined position, thereby preventing any damage to the members thereof. As plates 16 and 18 are returned to their horizontal positions, at the end of the respotting and sweeping cycle, described hereinabove, the under-surface of plate 18 will again engage rollers 142, urging member 126 into its non-operative position below alley A and the associated machine is ready for the next ball to be rolled along alley A.

What I claim is:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, a pin handling and sweeping mechanism comprising a movable pin supporting deck provided with separate pin spots in generally triangular arrangement, said deck adapted for movement relative to said pin spots, a clamping member for maintaining standing pins in position on their associated pin spots after the rst ball of a bowling frame has been rolled, means for moving said member into and out of clamping position -adjacent said pins,

means for moving said deck relative to said pin spots to move fallen pins out of engagement with said clamped,

standing pins, a support for said deck and said pin spots adapted for pivotal movement toward said pit, means for moving said support into and out of an inclined position, and selectively-operative means associated with each of said pin spots for urging said fallen pins to gravitate into said pit when said support is inclined theretoward.

2. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, a pin holding and sweeping mechanism comprising a movable pin supporting deck provided with separate pin spots in genenally triangular arrangement, said deck adapted for movement relative to said pin spots, a clamping member for maintaining standing pins in position on their associated pin spots, means for moving said member into and out of clamping position adjacent said pins, means for moving said deck relative to said pin spots to move fallen pins out of engagement with said clamped standling pins, a plate located below said deck supporting said deck, said pin spots, and said clamping member, means mounting said plate for pivotal movement toward said pit, means for .rotating said plateinto and out of `an inclined position, rotating members associated with each of said pin spots, and selectively operative means for rotating said members to urge said fallen pins to gravitate into said pit when said plate is pivoted theretoward.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including a guard, means supporting said guard for movement into guard position adjacent and transverse of said alley when said plate is in said inclined position and out of guard position when said plate is returned from inclined position.

4. A bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley having a movable pin supporting bed and a pit adjacent thereto, separate pin spots in generally triangular arrangement in said bed, said bed ladapted for vertical movement relative to said pin spots, and for movement into and out of normal horizontal position and toward said pit,'means operative lafter a ball has Ebeen thrown for engaging the upper body portions and clamping any remaining standing pins on said pin spots against movement therefrom or relative thereto, and means operative while said pins are thus clamped for moving said bed out of horizontal position and toward said pit and vertically relative to said pin spots to move fallen pins on said bed out of engagement with said clamped pins and to grav-itate said fallen pins into said pit.

5. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a movable pin supporting bed and a pit adjacent thereto, separate pin spots in generally triangular arrangement in said bed, said bed adapted for vertical movement -relative to said pin spots, and for movement into and out of normal horizontal position and toward said pit, means operative after a ball has been thrown for engaging the upper body portions and clamping any remaining standing pins on said pin spots against movement therefrom or relative thereto, means operative while said pins are thus clamped for moving said bed out of horizontal position and toward said pit and vertically relative to said pin spots to move fallen pins'on said bed out of engagement with said clamped pins and to gravitate said fallen pins into said pit, rotatable pin pushers associated with each pin spot and means for rotating said pin pushers as said bed is moved vertically relative to said pin spots to engage said fallen pins'on said deck, directing said pins into said pit.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 including a guard, means supporting said guard for movement into guard position adjacent and transverse of said alley when said lbed is moved out of horizontal position, said guard being urged out of guard position when said bed is returned to said horizontal position.

7. In -a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a Y bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, pin handling and sweeping apparatus comprising a spotting table adapted for movement to and from said alley and to and from `a dwell position thereabove, a movable pinsupporting plate provided with a plurality of triangularly arranged apertures, pin Supports secured in position in` said apertures, means mounting said plate for vertical movement relative to said pin supports, a clamping member carried by said table and operative, after a ball has been thrown, for, engaging the upper ends of any remaining standing pins on their associated pin supports against movement therefrom or relative thereto, means for engaging and disengaging said clamping member from said table, a second plate positioned below said pin-supporting plate supporting said pin-supporting plate, said pin supports and said clamping member when in pin-engaging position disengaged from said table, -means pivotyally mounting said second plate for movement from a normally horizontal position to an inclined position toward said pit, and means for pivoting said second plate after said clamping member is moved into pin-engaging position, said means mounting said iirst plate operative in response to said movement of said second plate` out of horizontal position to move said rst plate relative to said pin supports whereby fallen pins thereon are moved out of engagement with said clamped .standing pins and gravitate into said pit.

8. The invention as deined in claim 7 including a rotatable device associated with each pin support, and means for rotating said devices for positively urging fallen pins delivered thereto on said pin supporting plate into said pit.

9. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said means pivotally mounting said second plate includes hinges secured to said plate and to a portion of said alley adjacent said pit, a pair of levers pivotally mounted at one end to said plate, a second pair of levers pivotally secured at one end to said alley floor, a third rpair of tating said shaft, said crank members connected to and rotating with `said shaft whereby, as said shaft rotates said crank members pivot said levers about their connections to rotate said second plate about said hinges.

l0. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said means mounting said pin supporting plate for vertical movement relative to said pin supports includes pairs of rotatable front and rear support arms pivotally mounted on said second plate, means connecting each pair of front and rear support arms, said pin supporting plate freely resting on the upper ends of said support arms flush with said pin supports, means for rotating said rear support arms as said second plate is rotated, to move said pin supporting plate downwardly relative to said pin supports, said last-named means comprising an eXtension secured in common and rotatable with each of said rear support arms, brackets secured to said alley iioor and each provided with a horizontal cam track and a cam follower mounted on the free end of each extension adapted for travel in its associated cam track whereby, when said second plate is rotated toward said pit, said cam followers travelling in said horizontal cam tracks are operative to pivot their associated extensions and said front and rear support arms thereby downwardly, moving said pin supporting deck downwardly relative to said pin supports.

l1. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, a pin handling and sweeping mechanism comprising a bottom plate, means mounting said bottom plate for movement from a normally horizontal to an inclined position toward said pit, ten pin supports xed to and spaced from said bottom plate in a generally triangular coniguration, elongated rods fixed at one lower end to said bottom plate and at theirupper ends to each of said pin supports, a pin deck carried by said bottom plate and movable relative to said pin supports from a position ush with said supports when said bottom plate is horizontal to a position below said supports when said plate is inclined, means for moving said pin deck vertically relative to said pin supports in response to the movement of said bottom plate, rotatable disks supported on said rods below said pin supports, means for rotating said disks, a clamping member for maintaining standing pins in position on their associated pin supports after a ball has been thrown, means for moving said clamping member into and out of clamping position, means for moving said bottom plate after said clamping member has been said inclined pin deck carried by said inclined bottom plate and into said pit.

12. The invention as dened in claim 11 wherein said disks include resilient casters and said disk rotating means comprising sheaves rotatably mounted on each of said elongated rods, travelling belt means for driving said sheaves, studs connecting said sheaves to said casters and means for moving said travelling belt means, as said bottom is moved out of and into its normally horizontal position, to rotate said sheaves and said casters as said pin deck is moved vertically relative to said pin supports.

13. The invention as defined in claim 11 including a guard device comprising a transverse guarding member adapted to be moved into and out of guard position through an aperture in said alley in front of said pin deck, levers attached at one end to saidguarding member at spaced points therealong, means pivotally supporting said levers below said alley, spring means attached to the other end of each of said levers for normally urging said guarding member through said aperture and into guard position, brackets secured lat spaced points to the rear face of said guarding member, a rotatable member carried in the free end of each bracket, said bracket and rotatable member so positioned asV to be engaged by the undersurface of said pin deck when said pin deck and said bottom plate are in substantially horizontal position and urged out of guard position thereby whereby said guard device is operative only when said bottom plate and said pin deck are moved out of horizontal position.

14. A sweeping mechanism for use with a bowling pin spotting machine mounted on a conventional bowling alley and provided with a clamping member operative, after a ball has been thrown, for maintaining standing pins in position on said alley comprising stationary pin supports arranged in a generally triangular conliguration, means supporting said pin supports, a pin deck movable vertically relative to said supports from a position ilush therewith to a position therebelow and rotating means associated with said pin supports and located therebelow for engaging fallen pins delivered thereto on said pin deck, moving said pins into the pit of said alley.

15. A sweeping mechanism for use with a bowling pin spotting machine associated with a bowling alley having a movable pin support portion, said machine provided with a clamping member operative, after a ball has been thrown, for maintaining standing pins in position on said alley, comprising an upper plate provided with ten triangularly arranged apertures, pin supports mounted in each of said apertures, means mounting said upper plate for vertical movement relative to said pin supports, stepped shafts supporting each of said pin supports in position in said upper plate, a lower plate supporting said stepped shafts and said upper plate, means mounting said lower plate for pivotal movement relative to the pit of said alley, said upper plate being adapted to move relative to said pin supports in response to the movement of said lower plate, an annular member rotatably mounted on each of said shafts adjacent the step thereof, and below said pin support, a sheave rotatably mounted on each of said shafts below said annular member, means connecting each of said sheaves to its associated annular member, and means for rotating said sheaves whereby fallen pins on said upper plate after a ball has been thrown and said fallen pins moved into engagement with said rotating annular members, are urged thereby into said pit.

16. The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for rotating'said sheaves includes travelling belts means interconnecting said sheaves, a sleeve rotatably mounted on one of said shafts, said sleeve supporting its associated sheave at its upper end, a pulley mounted on the lower end of said pulley, and means for driving said pulley through a power source whereby, as said pulley is driven, said sheave associated with said sleeve is rotated to travel said belt means to rotate all of said sheaves substantially simultaneously.

17. The invention Ias dened in claim 16 wherein said resilient means includes springs secured at one end to each of said levers and at the other end to a portion of said alley.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,059,211 Rishebegar et al Apr. 15, 1913 1,302,897 Butler May 6, 1919 2,316,183 Patterson Apr. 13, 1943 2,629,595 Anderson Feb. 24, 1953 2,641,471 Timberlake June 9, 1953 2,735,681 Sherman Feb. 21, 1956 

